B u d a p e s t – The Hungarian parliament has passed a new law on religion. The law, which takes take effect on January 1, 2012, tightens the currently generous regulations for recognition of religious communities. Only 14 “historic” churches and religious organizations will be officially recognized, including the Baptist Church. In the future, parliament can make decisions concerning the status of the other 344 “small churches”, separately upon request. Among the unrecognized faith communities are the Evangelical Methodist Church (EMC), Seventh Day Adventists, Pentecostals, and the Salvation Army. Along with several Hungarian writers and human rights activists, the Adventists have strongly protested the new law. According to an open letter to the European Union and the Council of Europe, signed by former members of the liberal opposition to the communist dictatorship, it violates religious freedom.

In contrast, Dr. Kálmán Mészáros (Budapest), president of the Hungarian Baptist Union, in a conversation with the EBPS, welcomed the new law. According to him, the government is treating the Baptists like the state churches. This is justified, since the Baptists have been recognized in the country since 1895. The predecessors to the Baptists, the Anabaptists, have been represented in Hungary as far back as 1523. However, he regretted that the new law displayed a lack of regard for the concerns of the smaller free churches. At the same time, he declared himself ready, in the name of the Baptists, to help the other free churches gain official recognition as churches. Eight smaller churches had already submitted such requests, said Mészáros, who also serves as university lecturer and chair of the Church History department of the Baptist Theological Seminary. In Hungary there are about 12,000 Baptists in 368 local churches.

The President of the Adventists in Hungary, Tamás Ócsai (Budapest), appeared dismayed by the new law. He shared in a press release that, beforehand, representatives of the government had promised the Adventists full recognition. Over 4,600 Adventists in 110 local churches live in Hungary. The Methodists, with 34 churches and 2,000 members, are disappointed by the decision. They plan to continue to seek official recognition. In doing so, they said at the Central Conference for Middle and Southern Europe in Zurich, Switzerland, they count on the support of the already recognized churches. When asked, Urs Schweizer of the Central Conference told the EBPS that the EMC in Hungary had hoped, given their over 100- year history in that country, to be included with the “historic churches”. However, they are the only member church of the Ecumenical Council in Hungary and of the Conference of European Churches (CEC), not to be recognized.

Fourteen churches were recognized as “historic”. Three Jewish communities are included in this number. Future applicants for official recognition must, among other requirements, have existed for at least 20 years in Hungary and conduct themselves in accordance with the constitution. The new law also applies to religion classes in schools. The granting and financing of religion classes in state schools is guaranteed by the state. Before the revision of the law, a survey revealed that many of the over 300 registered churches and organizations no longer exist. Following the political change of 1989, Hungary introduced a practice of recognizing religious communities at the local level which was very liberal in comparison with the rest of Europe.